Rape accused BSP legislator claims he is impotent

Lucknow: A ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) legislator accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh`s Banda district Tuesday claimed he was "impotent".

"I am being implicated, the charge of rape is baseless. I am not capable of committing rape as I am impotent," Purshottam Narain Dwivedi told mediapersons in Banda, about 180 km from here.
He went to the extent of declaring: "I am ready to be examined by any medical expert across the country to confirm that what I am saying is absolutely true."

He claimed that the charge against him was "politically motivated".

The 17-year-old victim had accused Dwivedi and his henchmen of not only subjecting her to gangrape last month but also implicating her in a case of theft.

Dwivedi accused her of stealing his licensed revolver and Rs.5,000 from his house, for which she was lodged in jail in Banda.

Dwivedi was cornered after the victim gave a written statement before a local court in Banda earlier in the day. She accused him of raping her twice.

Finding enough material for a prima facie case, the court asked police to investigate the matter.
A medical examination of the girl has also been conducted. The first sample for the examination was taken Dec 20, 2010 - exactly 11 days after she had remained under the legislator`s illegal confinement. The panel for medical examination was appointed Dec 31, 2010.